Epilogue

SIX MONTHS LATER

The party was in full swing by the time Steven arrived. He walked around to the back of the house, his nerves tight, palms sweating. Now that he knew his father was in remission, he had made some kind of peace with his brother’s killer—no, the teen who’d caused the accident that resulted in the death of his brother. He’d never forget it. But he was ready to move on.

With Haley. They’d seen each other almost every day over the past six months.

He realized things could change at a moment’s notice. Life would have more curve balls to throw at him, but he was ready to deal with those head on.

With Haley.

She’d roped off part of the back pasture and strung lights around the perimeter. Kids danced, adults chatted, and Michelle handed out cupcakes.

Steven walked over to her and gave her a hug. “How are you doing?”

Michelle tilted her head, then pursed her lips. “I have the occasional nightmare,” she finally said, “but they’re fading. The Lord comforts.” She handed him a cupcake. “And these don’t hurt.”

He laughed and bit into the sugary sweet. “You’ve got that right.”

“She’s over there.”

“Who?” He made sure he had his innocent face on when he asked the question.

She swatted his arm. “You know who.”

“Thanks.”

He finished off the cupcake and walked over to Haley, who stood by herself, staring off into the dark. “Not in the mood to party?” he asked.

She whirled and launched herself into his arms.

He kissed her and didn’t come up for breath until she giggled. “What?”

She motioned behind him and he turned to find they had an audience. Four teen center kids who’d been standing at the fence feeding apples and carrots to the horses giggled and whispered behind their hands.

He kissed her cheek. “I guess we’re entertaining.”

“More so than the cupcakes and s’mores apparently.”

Micah appeared and jumped onto Steven’s back. Steven caught the still skinny but growing boy and piggybacked him to the lounge chair, where he dropped him. “Take a load off, kid.”

Micah’s laughter thrilled him. The boy still missed his mother, but he was adjusting. And her heart was beating a steady rhythm of love in his chest.

Zeke looked up from the group he was talking to and waved. “We’re adopted!”

“I know! Congratulations!”

Zeke grinned and Steven was excited for him. And for himself. Because if Haley was agreeable, he’d be calling Zeke and Micah “sons” before too long. He was hoping to give this adoption party something else to celebrate.

If he could get Haley alone.

Daniel and Katie, along with Daniel’s niece, Riley, were there. So were Wade, Olivia, and their daughter, Amy. It looked like Olivia was ready to have her baby at any moment. Maddy, too, was sporting a baby bump, and Quinn grinned every time his eyes landed on her.

Laila and Christina were already working overtime, and Katie had been teasingly warned she couldn’t get pregnant until Olivia and Maddy were back at work. She’d smiled and said she wasn’t making any promises.

Steven slipped an arm around Haley and pulled her to the side. Away from the loud music, the dancing and fun.

“Steven?”

“Come on, I want to pet a horse.”

“What? Since when? You’re scared of them, remember?”

“Not scared anymore. You’ve . . . desensitized me.”

She laughed. “Okay, come on.”

This time she grasped his hand and led him over to Sasha, the gentle mare she’d agreed to take as a rescue last month.

“She’s put on weight,” he said.

“Yes. She’s looking good.”

“You look good. In fact, you look downright beautiful.”

Haley’s heart thudded at the look in his eye. “Well, thank you. I appreciate that.”

“You know what I appreciate?”

“What?”

“The fact that it’s no longer ninety degrees in the evenings. I appreciate that you had this place sprayed for mosquitos. And I appreciate—”

She laughed. “You appreciate . . . ?”

“Tradition.”

“Oh. Well, cool. I do too.”

“Good, I thought you might. That’s why I want to do this right.”

Haley stilled and the butterfly swarm that seemed to live in her belly when she was around this man came to life. “Do what, Steven?”

He dropped to one knee and took her hand. “This.”

“Oh, me.”

“I hope that’s a good ‘oh, me,’ ’cuz if it’s not, tell me now.”

“It’s a good one. Keep going.”

Relief flooded his face and his eyes crinkled in a grin. He dug into his front pocket and pulled out a small box. “I talked to your grandfather earlier today.”

“You did?”

“Uh-huh. I asked him if he thought he might be up to hosting a wedding at his home.”

“I see.” Her voice thickened and she cleared her throat. “An’ whose weddin’ might ye be thinkin’ he’s goin’ to host now?”

“Ours if you say yes. I love you, Haley. I was wowed by you from the moment I set eyes on you. But that’s just the physical part. There are a lot of pretty women out there, but you have a special heart, a love inside you that just keeps on giving, expanding with each person you meet. It’s contagious too. And I love it when you talk in that Irish brogue of yours. I want to hear it every day for the rest of my life.”

Tears dripped down her cheeks and she didn’t even try to wipe them away. “When did you get so eloquent?”

“I’ve been working on it.”

“I love you too, Steven.”

He pulled the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. Then stood to pull her into a hug. “Like I said, I want to spend the rest of my days with you. Loving you, fighting with you, making up with you, doing life with you . . .” He glanced back toward the festivities. “Raising kids with you. Do you think you can go for that?”

“I can go for it to be sure.”

“I have a new outlook on life because of you, a new hope . . . a new heart.”

“You’re making me cry.” She sniffed. “And I’m not a crier.”

“I’m not either, but I don’t think that’s going to stop me.”

She laughed. “I love that you make me laugh. I love that you love those boys over there. I’m not as eloquent, sorry. I haven’t had time to practice. Can I just say that I love everything about you—except maybe yer tendency to insist on yer own way—and we call it good?”

He threw back his head and shouted his laughter. Then picked her up and spun her around. Sasha snorted and backed up. “Sorry, girl.” Steven set Haley on her feet.

“Hey, lovebirds, what are you doing?” Micah called.

“Celebrating life!” Steven grinned down at her. “Haley said yes!”

Micah whooped and he and Zeke high-fived. Their friends gathered around them and the congratulations ensued once again. Haley couldn’t stop grinning. She sent up a silent thank-you to the One who’d made everything new. Her gaze slid to a glowing Maddy and Olivia. New life. She looked at Micah and Zeke, a new family and a new start. She gazed at Steven, her beloved.

A man with a new heart.

And a soon-to-be new wife.

She kissed his cheek and he pulled her over to the dessert table. Michelle handed him another cupcake.

“Let’s practice.” He handed it to her and then took another for himself. They crossed arms and each took a nibble.

She watched his eyes and knew exactly what was coming.

She smashed the cupcake into his face a mere second before she felt the sticky sweetness cover her mouth and chin.

Laughter surrounded them as he kissed her.

And Haley couldn’t wait to see what the future held for them and those she loved.